The Old Mineral Display Case by the Court House

 

 This piece of past Crittenden County History was located on the side of the old clerk's office that was located next to the Court House.  It was torn down in 1961 with the old court house to make room for the new Court House that was built in 1961.  Here is the history of the once fascinating item.

The Crittenden Press, Nov. 4, 1954

 Offering a new interest to local folks as well as visitors, a new mineral display case has recently been erected on the outside wall of the County Clerk's office on the Courthouse Square.

Attractive and unusual specimens of fluorspar and other minerals from this area will soon be placed in the exhibit case. 

 It's easy visibility from Main Street, plus display lights to show off the specimens at night, is expected to attract many out-of-town visitors and call attention to our resources in this area.  Mr. Ben E. Clement is pictured standing in front of the new display.

Citizens are invited to submit unusual or interesting specimens for the exhibit which may include fluorspar samples, "coal plant fossils" and other unusual specimens.  Contribution will be acknowledged on an identification card placed on each specimen displayed.

The new mineral display case has been made possible by the Crittenden County Development Association and by a committee formed for this purpose, consisting of Mr. B. E. Clement and Mayor Sylvan Clark.

Some Noted Early Marion Business Men of 1894

 In August of 1894, The Crittenden Press published a three-part illustrated edition of the paper.  In the papers were all kinds of information on people and businesses that were important to the city and county at the time.  I have found these articles to be a vital source of our past history of who and what was helping shape our county at the time.   Let's meet a few of these noted men in this week's post.  Will have more in later posts.

A. J. Bennett was born and reared on a farm in Livingston County. Several years ago he moved to Crittenden and is now one of our leading citizens.

He owns a fine farm in then Tolu famous corn belt of the county, and his industry as a farmer, his skill in the management of a farm, place him among the leading agriculturists of Southern Kentucky. He is a citizen full of enterprise and one who delights in the prosperity of the country. He has a splendid home, surrounded by the fruition of his labors.

Mr. Bennett takes great interest in political matters. He is a staunch Democrat, and last year his name was frequently mentioned in connection with the race for the legislature.

No man stands higher in the estimation of the people who know him than Judson Bennett, and such citizens make Crittenden a leading county in the proud galaxy of counties that constitutes the good old Commonwealth of Kentucky.

(A. Judson Bennett was born Feb. 14, 1847 and died Sept. 6, 1928. He is buried in the Mapleview cemetery.)

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Robert Newton Walker. The senior member of the firm of Walker & Olive, the leading furniture dealers in the county, was born in this county in 1833, near the Ohio River and lived on their farm there until 1868.

In 1868 he was elected sheriff, defeating Robert Coffield, the ex-postmaster of Marion. In 1872 he was re-elected and is regarded as one of the best sheriffs the county has had. For awhile he sold goods at Marion, and handled leaf tobacco several years, finally embarking in the furniture business with Mr. Jesse Olive.

Mr. Walker is regarded as one of the best citizens of the county. In all positions, either as a private citizen or an officer, he was and is popular with the people. The firm of which he is the senior partner, carries a large stock of furniture, of all descriptions, and handles building lumber of all kinds. They have a splendidly equipped undertaking department.

(Robert Newton Walker died Jan. 24, 1906 and is buried in the Mapleview cemetery. He was married to Sarah J. Clement, she died May 18, 1918 and is also buried at Mapleview.)

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J. Frank Loyd.  "He is the best Marshal Marion ever had", that is a remark one hears applied to our present city marshal, Mr. J.  Loyd, every day, and nobody disputes the truth of the assertion; if there be any man wedded to duty and its demands it is Frank Loyd.

It never gets too hot, nor turn too cold for him to look after the work he has sworn to perform, and in the discharge of official duty he knows neighbor friend nor foe, and Marion may well congratulate herself upon securing such a man to wear the uniform as her chief peace officer.

Mr. Loyd was born on a farm in this county August 23, 1864, and is a son of Mr. Wm. P. Loyd, one of our best farmers. In 1883 Frank concluded to try his fortune in the west; he attended the State Normal School at Warrensburg, Mo., one year and having secured through the influence of a friend, a school in the Indian Nation, he set out to take charge of his new work, but en-route he was taken ill and had to return to Kentucky.

In 1891 and 1892 he served as deputy sheriff under sheriff Cruce, and distinguished himself as a pains-taking, watchful, faithful officer, making a reputation that easily won for him the marshal-ship of Marion. At present he is marshal, assessor, tax collector, and street commissioner, and under him the streets are improving, the taxes are being collected promptly and evil doers around Marion do not find smooth sailing. Marion is proud of her faithful officer.

 (Mr. Loyd died June 26, 1922. He was married to Nannie E. Bradley. They are buried at Mapleview Cemetery, with a large impressive stone, which is graced with their picture.

Some Happenings 100 years ago this month, January 1922

 From the archives of The Crittenden Press we can see what was happening 100 years ago in our fair city and county in the month of January 1922.

New Officers

• E. Jeffrey Travis was sworn in and took charge the fist of the month as County Judge. He served as County School Superintendent for several years and as County Road Engineer for some time. He was elected County Judge without opposition. Mr. Travis is a vigorous young man and has had wide experience in the affairs of the county. The people are expecting an efficient administration of the county's affairs and the Press predicts the people will not be disappointed.

• Edward D. Stone was sworn in and took charge as County Attorney the first of the month and had his first trial on the third of this month. He was educated in the schools of this county and graduated at Cumberland University in t he Law school. He once represented this and Livingston county in the Kentucky Legislature. He was elected to the office without opposition. He is a young man of good morals and the people are expecting him to look well after the interests committed to him.

• Mr. James T. Wright was elected Sheriff of the County and took over the office on last Monday. He appointed Messrs. Joe Hunter Travis and John T. Pickens as his deputies.

• Mr. James E. Sullenger was elected Circuit Clerk without opposition and took over the office Monday.

• Mr. Learner E. Guess succeeds himself as County Clerk and was elected without opposition. Mr. Guess has served as County Clerk for several years and is a most efficient and painstaking officer.

• John C. Spees took possession of the jail and began operation on the first of the year.

List of City Officers

These men will be in charge of the business affairs of the city of Marion for this year. 

• Mayor, Bebe Boswell, 
• Clerk, E. L. Harpending, 
• City Judge: A. M. Gilbert, 
• City Attorney, J. G. Rochester,
•  Marshall, Albert Cannan, 
• Assessor, Tom Wring, 
• Collector, W. D. Cannon, 
• Treasurer, Miss Kate Yandell,
•  Clock Winder, Levi Cook.

***

New Theatre Named the Rex

Mr. Dewey Gray, who is manager of three theatres in Illinois, is now preparing the building formerly occupied by the Marion Hardware and Grocery Company and will remodel this building and open a moving picture show.

The new amusement place will be known as the Rex Theatre and the first show will start at 6:30 p.m. Saturday. Bound and Gagged Pathe News will be showing. Admission is .35 cents and .25 cents. The theatre will run every evening of the week and we are assured that every evening's entertainment will be of the best. (The Rex theatre was locate in the building next to Gilbert's funeral home on West Bellville St.)

***

The New Bridge

The iron bridge over Tradewater river at Fishtrap connecting Crittenden and Webster counties was completed without an accident and opened for traffic Saturday morning December 31.

We wish to express our thanks to Judge R. L. Moore, Esquire W. D. Drennan, and Esquire F. M. Davidson of Crittenden County and the officials of Webster county, and all others who did anything to promote this important work.

On December 31 a celebration was held at Enon Church. After the service a bountiful dinner was served by the good ladies of this community.

This is one important step that both counties have looked forward to for several years.

***

Law Enforcement Meeting

Quite a number of our citizens met to discuss the importance of organizing the citizens of Marion and Crittenden County in a league to seek the enforcement of the laws.

After several rousing speeches given by the Mayor, Revs. J. F. Price, E. N. Hart, and Judge Clem S. Nunn and others, which resulted in every man present pledging himself to do his part to enforce the laws by standing behind the officers of the law and furnishing the necessary evidence for the conviction of law breakers and their punishment.

The spirit and enthusiasm of the meeting was enough to alarm the moonshiners and boot leggers as well as all law breakers.

The following resolution was unanimously adopted: We the citizens of Marion, Crittenden County, having met this 9^th day of January 1922 in a meeting of the Law Enforcement League, after due and careful discussion, have arrived at the following conclusions:

The the anti prohibition forces are making a great effort to thwart the prohibition laws of this country, to introduce and pass a measure to permit the sale of beer and wines; Therefore: Be it resolved that we express to our Senators Hon. A. O. Stanley and R. P. Ernst, a vote of renewed confidence and that we urge upon them to stand firm and steadfast in all measures to prevent this law for the sale of beer and wine becoming effective. And we urge measures that shall compel a stricter enforcement of all laws, especially the prohibition law, thruout the country.

On behalf of the citizens of Crittenden County, Kentucky. Signed by 53 citizens of Marion.

***

Flag Raising Ceremony - 1941

 It's always nice when you find an article in the Crittenden Press that tells the history of a picture you have that you knew nothing about.  Such happened to me with the one below.

The Crittenden Press, January 17, 1941

The large American flag that the Americanism committee of the American Legion Auxiliary of the Ellis B. Ordway post is giving to the Marion city schools was raised on Tuesday morning, January 21, following appropriate exercises which took place in the new high school gymnasium.

Music for the occasion was furnished by the Marion High school band.

The public was cordially invited to attend these services.

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Little did they know that in 11 months that Pearl Harbor would be attacked and the beginning of World War II would begin.

Steward Chapel CME, Black Congregation Church

 

This beautiful church once stood on North Maple Street in Marion.  The plot of ground on which the church and parsonage stood was given by Mr. Herrod Travis.  

The church was rebuilt in 1916 under the pastorate of Rev. P. W. Garrett.  

Some of the ministers that pastored here were Revs. P. W. Garrett who served two years, Rev's. Morris, Moore, Robertson, J. S. Crumb who served five years, J. M. F. Jenkins who served two years, S. L. McGee who served one year, C. E. Burns who served five years, and A. B. Mason who served from 1941-1973, thirty-two years,.  He also pastored Phillips Chapel C.M.E. Church at Sturgis.  He pastored the church at Marion until December 16, 1973 when he was called from labor to reward.  (This information was taken from the little booklet "The Churches In Our County" A Bicentennial Celebration Publication, 1974.  

Rev. Albert Buford Mason died Dec. 16, 1973, is buried in the Lewis Cemetery.  He was a World War I Veteran.  Kentucky CPL US  Army.

This church was torn down a few years after this booklet was printed.  All that is left of this beautiful building is the concrete block foundation.  No more history is known about what happened to its congregation, or why and when the destruction of the building took place.

It must have been a beautiful sight in its day.

All that remains today.

Official Naming of Cochran Hill

 

 I think it is always interesting to learn how our local places received their names.  

A lot of the time our roads were named for a family that lived near-by or they owned the property where the road was.

Many of our county roads today have family names to identify them by, also by cemeteries and schools that were nearby would be a good way to name a road. 

Many places that were known for having bad wrecks on them would be nick-named by local citizens and called that through the years.  Crayne Hill and Dead Man's Curve, just outside of Marion on 60 West, were two of the worse, also Rosebud Hill another one known for it's deadly curve.

 

Cochran hill about 2 miles south of Marion of Hwy 91S was  just called Cochran hill and curve for many years, that is what it was known by as the Cochran family lived at the top of the hill.

 It was always a deadly curve with a steep hill to climb, and terrible in the winter with ice and snow.  Many a vehicle ended up going off the bridge and into the field below as it tried to navigate and get speed to climb the hill. 

It was improved for safely reasons in later years and isn't as dangerous today as it once was, as you can see in the picture, it's more of a straight road now.

 

Most roads/hwy. are never officially named, but Cochran hill and curve has it's own history about its name.

Crittenden Press. Dec. 29, 1983 -

Geological Survey officially dubs Cochran Hill and Curve

The hill and curve on Ky. 91 two miles south of Marion, which Crittenden Countians have for years referred to as Cochran Hill, has been registered under that name by the federal government.

 

The U. S. Board on Geographic Names conferred the name to the hill earlier this year in honor of Herbert Lyle Cochran, a Crittenden County farmer and carpenter, who lived there from 1911 until his death in 1976. 

John Parr Cochran of Charlotte, N. C., executor of his father's estate, said this week he began attempts to get the area officially named as Cochran Hill shortly after his father died. “I just wanted to get Dad some recognition,” he said.

 

The process involved documenting that the locale had no other official name and getting its certification from the national agency with headquarters at Reston Va.

 

Some states, Cochran said, have agencies which name geographic locations, but Kentucky does not so the jurisdiction fell to the national board, a division of the U. S. Geological Survey.

 

Cochran said he obtained letters of recommendation from then County Judge R. C. Hamilton, his mother Margaret Cochran, and other residents in the area.

 

The Cochran family has owned land in the area since the late 1700's. A log house was built there in 1879, he said and that was remodeled in 1802. That one stood just off Ky. 91 until it was replaced by the house presently there in the 1950's.

The Short Life of The Marion Reporter

 

The Marion Reporter newspaper only lasted from June 24, 1954 until March 31, 1955.

It was founded by Emmett Rodgers.  Part of his message "From the Publisher" appeared in the first edition of June 24, 1954.

You have now in your hands the first edition of the Marion Reporter, dedicated to the high concepts of honest and fearless journalism and to the everlasting betterment of Marion and Crittenden County.

Our desire to publish a newspaper stems from one great ambition - community development.  It cannot be that we anticipate the Marion Reporter being a source of great income, nor a personal device upon which we may exploit any selfish ambition.  We also recognize the simple arithmetic of years in our calculation and cannot anticipate the wheels of journalistic fortune being discovered at this late date.

We must fully recognize the fact that Crittenden county, has been feeling the business pinch.  It must be our business to bring new industries to our community, find an even greener pasture in our farmlands, organize into unselfish organizations for united strength.

In other columns of this edition you will be able to obtain the personal information about those with whom we have associated in this venture.  We have absolute faith in their integrity and their abilities.

To others in the newspaper business in our community and in the state, we extend the hand of fraternal fellowship and goodwill.  

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From the March31, 1955 edition:  Reporter Consolidates With Press With This Final Issue.

To Our Patrons: The Editor wishes to announce that the Marion Reporter has been merged with the Crittenden Press, which was purchased several weeks ago by  Mr. Charles E. Pepper of Henderson, Ky.

Mr. Pepper is now in the Army and expects to get his release by June 28.  He and his wife are both graduates from schools of journalism and will make their home in Marion immediately upon termination of Mr. Pepper's military service.  

The editor and staff of the Marion Report wish to thank those who have so generously advertised, its correspondents, and the 2,450 subscribers for splendid support.

As this is the final issue of the Marion Reporter, Mr. Pepper will spend his new newspaper to all subscribers of the Marion Reporter for the unexpired time to which they are entitled. 

The Marion Reporter was initiated with the single purpose and sole idea of giving Crittenden and Livingston counties the type of weekly  newspaper that they were entitled to and not as a money making venture.  

Our motto of "If you don't want it printed, don't let it happen" has been strictly adhered to insofar as was humanly possible.

Thank you,  Emmett Rodgers

My thoughts:  The Marion Reporter was indeed an informative and community minded paper.  I've read, on mirco-film, many interesting  articles from the old paper.  Two that I remember well was on the history of the Alexander Rock Quarry that was located on Hwy. 60 North and the Mi-Marker Company that was located in Marion.  It did as Mr. Rodgers said, to try and promote our local businesses and make Marion look promising for the future.  The papers was also full of local happenings and people that were in the community.